Mary the Thirsty Elephant
On a sweltering August day in 1928, the Sells-Floto Circus rolled into Lewiston, Idaho. Among the performers was Mary, a parched and desperate elephant who had endured the grueling journey in 100-degree heat. As the elephants were being unloaded from their railcars, five of them — including Mary — broke free and charged toward Main Street, sending crowds of downtown shoppers fleeing in panic.
Four of the elephants were soon wrangled back to the circus grounds, but Mary, frantic with thirst and confusion, continued to stampede through town. Drawn to the glint of reflected light in shop windows, she smashed through them one after another, leaving a trail of shattered glass and wreckage in her wake.
As the streets cleared, Mary caught the scent of water from a nearby garage and made a beeline for it. Her handlers chased after her, desperate to bring her under control, but Mary was beyond calming.
Soon, Mayor E.G. Braddock — an avid big-game hunter — arrived with his rifle. He tracked Mary to the garage, cornered her, and fired several shots, ultimately bringing the desperate elephant down.
Today, Mary’s story is still remembered in Lewiston. Her trunk, along with the rifle that ended her life, is displayed at the home of Mayor Braddock’s grandson. A plaque at a downtown parking lot, on the former site of the garage at 308 Main Street, quietly commemorates the day Mary, only seeking a drink of water, met her tragic end.
©2019-2025 E. Deasy unless otherwise noted.